Cross Country Shelf

On our last trip out west I picked up this shelf at the D.I. Joseph thought I was nuts to try to put it in our luggage. I on the other hand thought it would be perfect in our bathroom and couldn't pass it up. After all if was only $1. Luckily I had a sister-in-law on my side as Joseph and I bantered back and forth about it's travel plans. She was willing to take it off our hands if it couldn't make the trip. (Thanks Rachel) I'm glad I prevailed. I even think that Joseph likes it in our bathroom :).

Jammin' Man

We bought this toy guitar at a local thrift store. As we left the store Ben told me that "they" call him Jammin' man. What a crack up. He tends to get a little shy when we get the flip out. It's an act. He's not usually so reserved. He is my little rock star!

Garage Door

How much would you expect to pay for a Garage Door? $299? - $599?

Sunday on our way to Church Joseph tried to close the garage door and in the process it closed into itself. It is a bit of a mangled mess. Joseph spent some time in the afternoon getting it somewhat straightened out, enough to close the door and I have entertained bidders to fix the thing.

Of course you can't get panels to fix the two broken ones, we need a whole new door. And of course they no longer make the same door so we can't match the other door. We finally settled on a company that makes a door that will be a close match. It will be installed Thursday. Any final guesses on the price?

$739 Installed. Who would have thought?

Eye wear, swimming, movies and more....

We have had a fun filled summer so far. Here are some of the highlights.
Ben is obsessed with goggles. He's tried out every kind. Here he was in Idaho at my in-law's cabin sporting the full figured kind.
The next picture is home on our kitchen island trying to put on Daddy's safety glasses.
In July we went to Idaho and attended the Ward reunion. We had lots of fun doing our favorite things in Idaho. We went to starlight mountain theater, spent time at the cabin playing in the water and on the paddle boat, and took in a rodeo. After the rodeo Benjamin wouldn't let go of the cowboy hat. I finally had to dispose of it in Salt Lake City at the airport as it was falling apart.

Pictured here with favorite Uncle Tim.




We brought two of Benjamin's cousin's home with us to spend some time in NY. Kaylynn and Ashley have been a joy to have. We spend a lot of time swimming thanks to generous neighbors, going to movies, and have been to two local science centers.

After a long plane ride, in Rochester Benjamin decided to drive.


This was a cool exhibit. I'm glad the camera actually got the photo of the bubble. The kids loved it.



Benjamin has no fear.
I can't believe how much he's grown and how tall he is. I'm very grateful that we're all healthy and happy and have had so much to do and see this summer. My garden has suffered for the neglect, but oh well!

Father's Day

We had a lovely Father's Day BBQ at the farm. I was able to take these pictures. I love it in the evening at the farm when the shadows are long, the cows are in the field by the house and the sun is almost setting behind the trees in the north field. To say it is beautiful is an understatement.








Lydia and Benjamin. They like to pal around. When Ben want's to get rough and tumble he turns to Josh and Caleb.


It was a lovely cool evening. Benjamin enjoyed his cousins immensely and asked if he could spend the night. I would have been tempted except Josh and Caleb are finishing school this week and we had lots to do at home.


My parents have some 6 week visitors. Abram and Levi have come for a visit to the farm from Hooper, UT. They are my cousin's Debbie's children. When Debbie was a teenager she spent a summer with us on the farm. Now 4 of her children have gotten to do the same thing. She sure has a talent for raising children. Her kids are the most well behaved, respectful, yet fun kids I know. (They even know how to make rolls.) I really want their secret. I'd love it if Benjamin was exactly the same. We call them the slaves. They are doing odd jobs that need to be done at the farm, moving lawns, cleaning out sheds etc. They love the 4 wheeler and have complained that their new boots have too much traction. They are unable to slide on the cow's tails. They are delightful to be around. We are trying to talk them into staying permanently and telling their mom and dad to take an occasional trip to see them. (It's not working.)

Lastly, a cheesy grin from my handsome husband. He quizzed the Bowen boys about what they like, what their routine was like talked all around boy talk. I'm glad he is Ben's father. It's sure nice to have a partner to travel life's path with.

Cancer free

The very best news we've received this year is that Kenneth is now cancer free. His latest Pet scan showed residual lumps that are most likely scar tissue from the large tumors but, no sign of the cancer.
Since the day he called we've felt an overwhelming amount of gratitude. Gratitude for a God who loves us and tries us to make us better, Gratitude for love of family, Gratitude for friends who love and support us and make some of life's challenges bearable, Gratitude for people who devote their lives to studying medicine and making other's lives better. Lastly we are so grateful to be able to enjoy Kenneth. It has been a hard road.....but oh how sweet the sound of those words cancer free.

June in a nutshell

Everyone has returned home safely and we are getting back into our routine. It was so nice to have my 4 brothers and their families here. It has taken us a while to get back in the swing of things. We have been super busy with school and end of year parties, but I'm finally posting some of the pictures from the big family gathering.
Kenneth and Heidi celebrated their anniversary while they were here. We kept the kids overnight. Here was our picnic lunch. They loved playing together. They are such a joy.

Graduation Sunday came quickly. We all were able to attend. It was neat to be on Cornell's campus as I had never been there. We all thought that Kenneth looked great in his robes.
Dad mentioned that he was in the 99th class that Cornell graduated. The old stately buildings are breathtaking.
After the graduation festivities we had a picnic / bbq at our house. Aunt Pat and Phillip Baldauf's family were able to join us.
Here are the kiddo's on Grandpa's lap.
Kickball was the activity of choice for the grownup boys. (It really was hilarious.) The trampoline was ever popular with the kids. Dennis was hating the heat and humidity and spent some time in the basement on the cool concrete. Actually all the boys were in the basement playing air-hockey.
As the afternoon wore on we decided to put on a movie for the kids. I was amazed that the boys took over the family room. The poor kids were relegated to the floor and ottoman and if they were lucky they got a lap.
Since everyone left we have been trying to arrange a way to go to the Ward reunion in Idaho. Flight prices are outrageous! We told Ashley and Kaylynn that we would bring them back to NY with us for a few weeks. That was okay with their parents if they were accompanied on the plane. Coordinating that with the airlines has proven to be practically impossible.


These last few pictures are for the benefit of Heidi. Thanks for the pizza stone. As you can tell I wasted no time in using it. I think I like the round better than the rectangle on that I had and broke. Thank you!
My good friend Stacey had a birthday last week. I made the cake - actually cup cakes. It looked lovely.
I added this vinyl lettering to our kitchen recently..... when Joseph came home he said "Is that a promise?" I think he has been real meal deprived lately.
These last pictures are of my garden. It looks lovely this year. It's probably the best garden we've had. Wahoo!



The strawberries this year have been super sweet. Benjamin asks every morning if he can go pick strawberries. In years past I've had more plants and more strawberries, but I think this year they taste the best. I even have blueberries on their bushes. Yipee